Nut-tapping machine.



J. BOMA.

ANUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DB0.19,1908.

Panama Feb.1,1910.

@WML

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

NNN.

NNN NNN www.

Aunnzw. B. GRAHAM coll Fumo-unmannvuzns. msnm-cmu, u. n:4

J. SOMA.'

NUT TAPPING MACHINE. APPLIGATIQN FILED DB0.19,1908.

@me N f m, e Jaen 5mm4 mnnsw s` ummm w., Priore.Lnnvmuvuzns WASHINGTON, D. c

6 'l n l Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

J. BOMA.`

NUT TAPPING MACHINE. AIPLIOAVTION FILED DBO.19,190B.

Patented Feb. 1, 19W.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J.. BOMA.

NUT TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Dno.19,19oa.

Patented Feb.1,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

narra JOHN BOMA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PNEUMATIC NUT MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

NUT-TAPPING MACHINE.

Specieaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 19, 1908.

Patented. Feb. 1, 1910.

Serial No. 468,265.

To all whom it may concern:

l novel construction, arrangement, and comv I Be it known that I,- Joi-IN Borra, a citii bination of parts, hereinafter described,

zen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Tapping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in nut-tapping machines, the primary object of the invention being to provide a generally improved automatic machine of this class in which the various parts are so arranged and disposed relative to each other as to provide a perfect working machine adapted to hold and feed the nut-blanks rapidly and accurately in such a position relative to the taps as to result in the formation of a perfectly formed thread and properly faced nut.

Another object is to provide improved operating mechanism adapted to actuate, and coperate with, the various parts in a perfectly harmonious manner with a view to reducing to a minimum any liability of disarrangement or breakage of parts.

Another object is to provide the various operating mechanism with safety devices adapted to prevent the actuation of any device when the device with which it is designed to ccperate is not properly positioned for such cooperation.

it further object 1s to provide an improved nut-blank holding and feeding mechanism adapted to uniformly feed the nut-blanks with their face sides toward the taps whereby said nut-blanks will be uniformly tapped from their face sides and providing means whereby the face sides of the tapped-nuts may be faced by the tap socket portion of the revolving tap spindle after the tapped nut has been forced over the tap by the nutblank holding and feeding carriage.

ik still further object is to provide pneumatic means for operating the nut-blank holding and feeding carriages whereby said carriages are resiliently moved toward the taps to feed the nut-blanks thereon in the :feeding operations of the carriages, said pneumatic means being arranged to coperate with the mechanism for intermittently revolving the revoluble turret.

With the above-mentioned, and other objects in view, the invention consists in the illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing one embodiment of the invention, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l, is a side elevation of an improved nuttapping machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 9., an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view, taken through line 2-2, of Fig. l, and showing the revoluble turret portion of the machine and mechanism for intermittently revolving` said turret. Fig. 3, a side elevation of the same, one of the side walls of the supporting bed or frame of the machine being removed for the purpose of clearer illustration of the parts. Fig. 4, a cross-sectional view of the revoluble turret carrying a plurality of revoluble radially-extending tap-spindles and tap-holding and reciprocating devices. Fig. 5, a top plan view of the revoluble turret with the gear-cap or cover removed for the purpose of clearer' illustration of the parts. Fig. 6, a longitudinal sectional view of one of the pneumatically operated nut-blank holding and feeding carriages. Fig. 7, a view of the front end of the same, with attached depending bracket mechanism for cooperating with unlocking and shifter mechanism for intermittently releasing and revolving the turret, and also coperating with pneumatic mechanism for pneumatically operating the nut-blank holding and feeding carriages when the turret is in its normal position. Fig. 8, a side elevation of one of the nut-blank hoppers, and end feeding conduits, together with one of the pneumatically operated nut-blank holding and feeding carriages. Fig. 9, a plan view of the turret cam-ring for reciprocating the tap holding and reciprocating devices carried by the revoluble turret. sectional view of an oscillating nut-blank positioning gate member for uniformly delivering the nut-blanks into the nut-blank conduit with respect to their face sides. Fig. ll, a plan view of the rear end of same. Fig. 12, a detail front elevation of the vertically reciprocating nut-blank bucket operating in a nut-blank hopper. Fig. 13, a cross-sectional view through the turret body,

Fig. 10, a longitudinal with top plan view of turret supportingfraine or block, and pawl stop mechanism for coperating with the intermittently revolving turret. Fig. 14, an enlarged detail plan view of one of the tap-holding and reciprocating devices carried by the turret. Fig. 15, a detail view of a tap-socket and nut-facer carried by each tap spindle for the purpose of facing the nut when driven over the tap. Fig. 1G, a face view of same. Fig. 17 a top plan view of the pneumatic piston carrying and releasing plates carried by the pneumatically operated nut-blank holding and feeding carriages. Fig. 1S, a longitudinal sectional view of the pneumatic cyl inder and valve of the pneumatic mechan` ism for operating the nut-blank holding and feeding carriages.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The improved machine, in its present ein' bodiment, comprises a bed or frame 1, supported upon the usual standards or legs 2. A main driving-shaft 3, extends longitudinally of the bed or frame 1, and is mounted in suitable bearings at the ends thereof. The driving shaft 3, is provided at each end with a sprocket wheel t, and is provided at one end with a. cone or stepped pulley 5, adapted to receive a belting communicating with any suitable and convenient source of power.

A revoluble turret 6, is mounted upon the bed or frame 1, and in the resent instance, midway of the ends thereof by means of a turret supporting-frame or block 7. The turret supporting-block is, preferably, made up of two parts or members, the lower part or member 7, being adapted to rest directly upon the bed or frame 1, and to support the internal gearing of the turret hereinafter described. The turret is adapted to be intermittently revolved within the block or frame 7, and is provided with an annular bearing flange 8, seated within a corresponding annular bearing recess in the top or face side of the frame or block 7. The turret is adapted to be secured and intermittently revolved within the frame or block 7, by means of a gear ring 9, keyed to the lower portion of the cylindrical main body portion 10, of the turret, said gear ring 9, being fitted within an annular bearing recess 11, on the under side of the turret block 7. dien the several parts are assembled the upper and lower members 7 and 7a, of the turret-block may be bolted down upon the bed or frame 1, in any suitable and convenient manner. The gear-ring 9, meshes with a gear 12, loosely mounted upon the driving shaft 3, said gear 12, being adapted to be intermittently revolved with the shaft 3, by means of a longitudinally movable clutch 13, leyedrupon the shaft 3, and adapted to be moved into and out of frictional engagement with the gear 12, by means of a pivotally mounted shifting lever 1&1-, carried by the frame 1, and adapted to be actuated by the mechanism hereinafter described.

The internal gearing of the turret comprises a vertical cam-shaft 15, mounted and keyed at its lower end in the lower member 7a, of the turret block and provided at its upper end with a cam-head 1G, having oppositely-disposed cam projections 1G, A vertivcal sleeve driving-shaft 17, is loosely mounted upon t-he cani-shaft 15, and is provided at its upper and lower ends with horizontal gears 1S and 19. The intermediate portion of the driving shaft 17, is mounted within a bearing opening of an internal bearing head or disk 20, within the cylindrical main body portion 10, of the turret and the upper and lower gears 1S, and 19, keyed upon the ends of the sleeve shaft 17, are supported by said internal bearing disk 20, and are adapted to abut and have a bearing thereon as shown. The sleeve shaft 17, together with the gears 18 and 19, carried thereby are adapted to be given a continuous rotary niotion upon the cam-shaft 15, by means of a fixed gear 2.1, carried upon the driving-shaft 3, and meshing with the gear 19. The gear 18, meshes with a plurality of pinion gears 22, loosely mounted upon a plurality of radially-extending longitudinally movable spindles 23, through the medium of sleeves or bushings 24. The sleeve portions 2-l-, of the tap-spindles are mounted in suitable bearings 25, of the r-evoluble turret (3. The longitudinally movable portions 23, of the spindles are adapted to be moved against the resistance of inner springs 26, by being cngaged by and riding upon the oppositelydisposed caln projections 1G, when the turret is revolved. The movable spindle portions 23, are provided with cross key-pins or similarly shaped key projections 27, adapted to move into engagement with similarly shaped key-pins or projections 2S, of the gears 22, and sleeve portions 2st, of the spindles when said spindle portions 23, are shifted by the oppositely-disposed cam-projections 16a, so that when the turret is in its normal or stationary position two diametrically opposite tap-spindles will be in gear with the gears 22, carried thereby, as indicated most clearly in Figs. at and 5, of the drawings. The sleeve portions 24;, of the spindles are provided with tap-socket and nut-facer portions 29, adapted to revolve the taps when moved into engagement therewith by the tap holding and reciprocating devices hereinafter described.

The tap holding and reciprocating devices comprise a plurality of radiaily-extending guide supporting-plates 30; mounted in a plurality of radially-extending guide-ways 31, formed in the turret G, opposite and outside of the radially extending tap-spindles.

rlhe guide-supporting-plates 30, are adapted to be reciprooated during the revolution of the turret by means of depending friction rollers 32, taking into and traveling within a cam-slot 33, of a cam-plate 34, mounted immediately beneath the over-hanging portion of the turret (3. rlhe cam-plate is supported and held in position by means of standards 34a, secured to and extending up from the turret-block 7 'Oppositely-disw posed notches or nut discharge openings 35, (see Fig. 9) are formed on the inner periphery of the cam-plate 34, and the disposition of the cam-slot 33, is such relative to the oppositely-disposed revolving tap-spindles held in gear with the gears 22, by means of the oppositely-disposed cam-projections 162", as to cause the guidesupporting-plates at this point to be moved to their extreme in ner travel for the purpose of holding the taps in engagement with said oppositelydisposed revolving' tap-spindles as hereinafter described.

E ach reciprocating guide-supporting-plate carries a pair of springsresisted tapguide jaws 236, said guide-jaws, in the present instance, being slidably mounted on the top side of the guide supportingsplate by means of guide-pins 37, extendingl upwardly from the supporting-plate and taking through guide-slots 38, of said guidejaws whereby a limited movement is provided for the latter, The guide-jaws are held toward each other in a po-sition to grasp the tap 39, by means of springs 40, in the present instance, secured to the sides of the supporting-plate 230, and having their free ends bearing against the outer sides of said guide-jaws. The inner or tap bearing sides of the guidejaws are provided with longitudinallyextending grooves 4l, (see Fig. 14) as a means for effectively receiving and holding the stem or shank portions 39, of the taps and are also provided with recess notches o-r pockets 42, for receiving the threaded body portion 39, of the taps whereby to eifectively prevent any longitudinal movement of the tap while being grasped by the guidejaws. The outer ends of the guideja'\vs are also provided with inwardly converging beveled portions 43, forming the flaring guide ends for the reception of the front ends of the nut-blank holding and feeding carriages hereinafter described. A pair of link arms 43a, are secured at their inner ends to the top side of the turret by means of guide-pins 44, extending through guide-slots 45, and into the top side of the turret. The outer ends of the guide arms terminate in iiiwardly-extending guide-hooks 4G, pivotally secured to the outer ends of the guidejaws 3G. The link-arms 43, cooperate with the guide-jaws in imparting a proper spreading movement to the latter when the beveled portions 43, of the guide-jaws and the beveled portions of the guide-hooks 4G, are enga ged by the ends of the nut-blank holding and feedii'ig carriages herein referred to.

As a means for disengaging the tappednut from the angled stem or shank portion of the tap when the latter together with the nutblank feeding carriage are withdrawn, a pair of spriiig-arms 47, and 48, are provided, said spring-aims 47 and 48, being adapted to be sprung and forced outwardly away from the tap and over thenut when the latter is being' fed over the tap by the nut feeding carriage.

It is obvious that the spring-arms 47, will engage with the rear side of the tapped nut and disengage the latter when the tap is moved by the tap carrying and reciprocating devices to its extreme outward travel as indicated in F ig. 5, of the drawings whereby the tappedsi'iut will drop down through the mit-discharge openings 35, of the cam-plate below, and be discharged when the tap carrying and reciprocating devices have been moved to their extreme outer positions.

As a means for stopping the revoluble tur ret at proper intervals during its intermit tently revolving motion, a pawl 49, is horizontally pivoted upon the top of the turret frame or block 7, by means of a pivotpin 50,

said pawl being provided with hooks 51 and i 52, adapted to cooperate with a series of stop pins 53, arranged at suitable intervals about the turret. The pawl is adapted to coperate with the stop-pins 53, in the usual man-` ner, and, in the present instance, is adapted to be moved to a position to disengage the stop-hook 5l, by means ofa sliding bolt 54, mount-ed on the turret block 7, by means of a bracket adapted to be engaged by a bracket of the nut-blank holding and feeding` carriage as hereinafter described.

The nut-blank holding and feeding carriages each comprise a horizontal reciprocating bar 5G, provided at its front end with a nut blank receiving and holding pocket 57, and, in the present instance, is provided at its rear end with a pistonshead 5S, said bar 5G', being adapted to reciprocate :in a guide cylinder 59. rlhe guide cylinder is mounted in a pair of brackets 60, and is provided at its front end with a bearing head Gl. A coil-spring (32, surrounds the reciprocating bar 5G, and is interposed between the bearing head 6l, and piston-head 5S, so that the forward or feeding motion ofthe carriage preferably operated by compressed air, as hereinafter described) is adapted to operate against the resistance of the coil spring 62.

An opening G3, is formed at the rear of the nut-blank receiving and holding pocket 57, of sutlicient size to receive and pass over the tap during the nut-blank feeding operation of the carriage. A movable spring resisted block 64, is mounted at the rear of the opening 63, at the front or fixed end of the carriage bar 56, and is provided with a bearing-opening 65, adapted to receive and support the stem or shank portion 39a, of the tap during the forward or feeding motion of the carriage and while the nut-blank is being fed over the tap. It is evident that by reason of the formation of the stem or shank portion 39, of the tap that the latter will be self centered as it finds its way into the openi ie ing 63, of the block 64, and before the nutblank reaches the threaded body portion of the tap. During this nut-blank feeding operation the block G4, is moved rearwardly in the guide-chamber 66, and against the resistance of the coil spring 67, located in said guide-chamber.

The pneumatic mechanism for operating the nut-blank holding and feeding carriage comprises an air cylinder 68, provided with laterally-extending air or uid conduit pipes 69, leading to the rear ends of the guide cylinders 59. The air or fluid-inlet pipe 70, communicates with the tank of any suitable and convenient air compressing mechanism.

The compressed air or operating fluid is adapted to be intermittently restrained within the cylinder 68, for the purpose of transmitting the same through the medium of the conduit pipe G9, for the feeding operation of the carriages, by means of a vertically movable valve comprising a piston-head 71, a depending valve-stein 72, and an upwardlyextending valve stem 7 8.

rlhe valve stem 73, extends through a suitable stuting box and is provided with a flanged head 74, adapted to coperate with valve releasing mechanism hereinafter described.

)Vhcn the piston-head 71, is elevated for the utilization of the operating Huid, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 1S, of the drawings, the upper portion of the valve-stein 7 3, forms a stop-pin 75, adapted to enter an opening 7 6, in the turret block or frame and an opening 77, of a plurality of openings formed at suitable intervals in the bottom portion of the turret. As a means for initially elevating and supporting the pistonliead for the utilization of the operating fluid in moving the nut-blank holding and feeding carriages in their feeding movement-s, the depending valve stem 7 2, is pivotally connected to a lever-bar 7 S, one end of said lever-bar being pivotally connected to a depending bracket 79, and the other or free end of which is adapted to be elevated, when the turret is in its normal or proper stationary position, by operating mechanism hereinafter described, and when so elevated the free end of the lever-bar 7S, is engaged and held during the initial movements of the carriages by means of a pivotallymounted depending latch-bar 80.

As a means for providing mechanism for holding the shifting lever 14, in a position to hold the movable clutch 13, in frictional engagement with the gear 1Q, for the movement of the turret while the carriages are in their normal position and also as a means for providing for the support of the pistonhead 71, in an elevated position while the carriages are feeding the nut-blanks over the taps, as well as providing for the dropping ot' the piston-head for the release of thc pressure of the operating liuid and the return of the carriages after they have moved to their extreme feeding positions, the front ends of the reciprocating carriage bars 5G, are provided with and carry depending brackets comprising a laterallyextending upper bracket portion 81, a vcrtically-extending bar portion 82, and. a laterally-extending arm or bar 83 (see Figs. 3 and 7). lhe lower end of the vertical bar portion 82, is provided with a depending bolt Si, extending through a longitudinal slot in one end of a longitudinally-extending piston carrying and releasing plate S5. The bolt Sat, is adjustably secured in the longitudinal slot of the plate S5, by means of an adjusting nut SG, for the purpose of regulating the extreme forward feed of the cai'- riages as hereinafter described. lhe piston carrying and releasing plates S5, extend towai'd cach other and overlap above the air cylinder 68. These plates 85, are longitudinally supported in guide supporting brackets 87, (see Fig. 2) secured to the frame 1, of the machine and the overlapping portions 85a, of the plates are provided with longitudinally extending valve stem guide slots SS, (see Fig. 17), said guideslots taking over the upwardly-extending valve-stem 73, and provided with enlarged terminal openings S9. ings S9, are of suliicient size to allow of the vertical passage therethrough of the hanged-head 7l, of the valve-stem 73, when the carriages are in their normal and extreme nut-blank feeding positions, respectively.

The piston carrying plates 85, are adapted to support the piston in its elevated position during the last portion of the feeding movements of the carriages, and it is evident, that the piston cannot be released for the discharge of air pressure until both carriages have been moved to their extreme feeding positions at which time the terminal openings Si), will meet and register with each other directly below the ilanged head 7i, and thus release the piston-head. Yhen the piston-head is moved to its lower position, the operating fluid will escape past it through the medium of the verticallyformed Huid-escape channels 90, formed in the inner periphery of the lower portion of the air cylinder GS, (see Fig. 18). This release of the piessnre of the operating fluid will cause the carriages to be returned to The terminal openllO efraeei their normal )osition by means ofthe' coilspring 62. lhen the carriages are returned to their normal or initial position the .inner or free end 83, of the arm or bar 83, of one of the .brackets carried by one of the carriages, (see li`igs. 3 and 7 engages with an upwardly-extending inclined portion lele, of the shifting lever 111, whereby the .movable clutch 13, is moved into frictional engagement with the gear 12, for the revolution of the turret.

.its the turret is revolved it is stopped in its proper position by one lof the stop-pins 55:3, coming into engagement with the stophook 51, of the pawl 4:9. hereinbefore rereferred to, and thc turret is also engaged by a movable stop lever forming part of the .mechanism to be now described. i

'lhe mechanism for elevatingI the free end oi the lever bar 78. incident to the elevation of the piston-head 71, in the air cylinder (39, prior' to the initial movements of the nutblank holding and feeding carriages, comprises a pair of vertically movable and pivotally-inounted arms consisting of an npvardly-extending and projecting arm 91, and a downwardly-extending and projecting lower arm 92. 'lhe upper arm 91, vis piv otally-.secured to the turret block or frame by means of a )'iivot-bolt 93, taking through 'a longitudinal guide-slot 941, and the lower portion of said upper arm is pivotallysecured to the upper end of the lower arm 92, by means of a pivot-bolt 95. The lower arm 92, pivotally secured to a cross arm ati, of the traine of the machine by means ot' a pivot-bolt 97, taken through a longitudinally-extending guide-slot 98. The lower end of the a rin 92, is provided with a hook or bracket portion 99, adapted to take under and engage with the free end of the level'- bar 79. when the arms 91, and 92, are clevated by the means now described. When the arms 91, and 92, are in their lower or normal positions a lateral projection 100, at the upper or free end of the arm 91, is adapted to be engaged by a pin 101, of one of the guide-supporting-plates 30, of the turret whereby said arm is moved to its proper position. The lower end of the arm 91, is so pivotally-secured and disposed relalive to the upper end of the arm 92, as to provide a projecting shoulder portion 91, adapted when moved to be engaged by a cam projection 102, of a cam 103, on the driving-shaft 3. rlhe engagement of the caiii-projection with the shoulder portion 91", elevates the arms 91 and 92, and in so doing the lateral projection 100, is carried above the pin 101, and when the arms have been carried to their extreme upper position a second cam-projection 1041, comes into engagement with the upper portion of the v lower arm 92, whereby said upper portion of the arm 92, is thrown outwardly away from the shaft 3, and is carried otl;1 of the camprojection 102. During this movement the latch head 80, of the depending latch member 80, has engaged the free end of the lever bar 7 8, whereby the latter is initially held in its elevated position when the projecting shoulder portion 91", is being carried off of the cam-iirojection. lilhen the arms 91, and 92, are moved to their eXtreme elevated positions the lateral projection 100, of the upper arm is elevated sulhciently to clear the stoppin 101, and just at this moment the second canifprojection 101, engages with the upper portions of the arm 92, whereby this portion of the arm 92, together with the lower portion of the arm 91, are moved away from the driving-shai'ft 3, and it is obvious that this movement will causo the upper or opposite end of the arm 91, to be moved in an opposite direction and will carry the lateral projection 100, to the opposite side of the stop pin 101, so that the shoulder portion 91., is carried olf of the cam-projection 102, the arms will fall by gravity to their normal or initial position and the lateral projection 100, will be carried on the opposite side of the stop-pin 101, as indicated in Fig. 3, of the drawings. A. spring 105, is secured to the upper portion of the lower arm 92, and is adapted to hold the arms 91 and 92, in their normal position as indicated in Fig.

2, of the drawings, said ligure of the drawings illustrating tlie position of the arms prior to their elevation in the act of carrying the free end of the lever-bar 78, upwardly to be engaged by the depending latch member 80.

When the arms 92, and 93, have returned to their normal position the operating fluid presses the nut blank holding and feeding carriages forward in their feeding movements and during the initial movements of the carriages the end 83a, of the arm 83, of the depending bracket of one of the carriages is carried oid of the inclined portion 11, of the shifting lever lil, whereby the movable clutch 13, is not held in frictional engagement with the gear 12, for the revolving of the turret during the feeding movements of the cariages. During this move ment the arm or bar portion 83, of the depending bracket comes into engagement with the upper end 80h, of the latch member 80, and disengages the latch head 80a, from the free end of the lever-bar 78, but the piston-head is still held in its elevated position by means of the guide-slots 88, of the piston carrying and releasing plates S5, and will be so held until both feeding carriages have reached their extreme feeding position at which time the terminal openings will register with each other and release the valve stem 73, by permitting the flangedhead 74, to drop downwardly therethrough. During this feeding motion of the carriages the portion 82a, of one of the vertical bars 82, of the bracket carried by one of the carriages comes into engagement with the outer end of the sliding bolt 54, which operates the pawl 49, to swing the stop-hook 51, out of engagement with one of the stop-pins 53, of the turret as hereinbefore referred to.

The mechanism for holding and properly positioning and conducting the nut-blanks one by one into the nut-blank pockets of the nut-blank holding and feeding carriages comprises a hopper 106, supported upon standards 107, ofthe frame work of the machine. The hoppers are arranged at each end of the machine and above the respective nut-blank feeding carriages, and are adapted to receive and contain the nutblanks in bulk. As a means for properly discharging the nut-blanks from the hopper into the nut-blank conduits, hereinafter described, each hopper is provided with a vertically-reciprocating bucket 108, said bucket being reciprocated by means of a connecting arm 109, operated by means of a double crank 110, of a horizontal drivingshaft 111. The driving-shaft 111, is mounted in suitable bearings of the standards 107, and is provided at its outer end with a sprocket wheel 112, and at the other or inner end with a crank wheel 113. Motion is given to the drivingshaft 111, by means of a sprocket chain 114, passing over the sprocket wheel 112, and over a sprocket wheel t, of the driving-shaft 3, whereby reciprocating motion is given to the bucket for the feeding of the nut-blanks as now described. The bucket 108, is provided with laterally-extending guide-flanges 115, working in suitable guideways of the inclined bottom 116, of the hopper.

Each bucket is provided with an inclined nut-blank discharging pocket groove 117, inclined toward the front wall 118, of the hopper and adapted to receive the nut-blanks in an edge wise position as indicated in Fig. 8, of the drawings, the nut-blanks being so inclined that the most forward nut-blank will abut or impinge against` the front wall 118, as the bucket is elevated and when the bucket is elevated to its extreme elevated position as indicated by the dotted lines in said figure of the drawings the nut-blanks are adapted to be discharged through a discharge opening or recess 119, formed at the upper portion of the wall 118. As the nut-blanks are discharged they pass into an oscillating nut-blank positioning gate said gate being oscillated to the posit-ion indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, of the drawings to receive the nut-blanks when the bucket is moved to its upper position. The nut-blank positioning gate comprises an oscillating trough member 120, pivotally mounted upon a bracket 121, and when tilted to the position shown in Fig. 8, ofthe drawings has its open end immediately in front of the discharge opening or recess 119. The tilting or oscillating of the trough member is accomplished by means of a verticallyreciprocating ba'r 122, carried in a suitable bracket of a cross bar 125, the lower end of said bar 122, being pivotally secured to a connecting bar or arm 124, connected to the crank wheel 113, of the horizontal driving shaft 111. The upper end of the vertically operating bar 122, is adapted to raise the rear end of thc oscillating trough member when elevated as shown in Fig. 8, of the drawings, by engaging with a pivot member 125, on the under side of the rear portion of the oscillating trough and pivoted with the oscillating trough member to the bracket 121. The pivot member 125, is provided with an angularly-extending member 125, adapted to close the rear end of the oscillating trough member when the latter is elevated as shown in Fig. 8, of the drawings, said angular member 125, being provided with a projecting arm 120, normally adapted to rest within the inclined chute portion 127, of the nut-blank conduit to be hereinafter described.

The nut-blank positioning gate is adapted to uniformly deliver the nut-blanks into the nut-blank conduit by having its oseillating trough member provided with an eye 128, conforming in its outline to the contour of the nut-blanks whereby the nut-blanks are fed therethrough in one uniform position (see Fig. 11 of the drawings.) By this arrangement it is obvious that the nutblanks can only pass through the eye 128, in the one position. For example, the first nut-blank shown in the pocket groove of the hopper and bearing against the front wall 118, when elevated, will pass into the nutblank positioning gate, and its rounded or beveled side being on the same side with that of the rounded or beveled side 128, of the eye of the oscillating` trough member, will pass freely thert-ithrough, but should the second and reversely positioned nut-blank shown in Fig. 8, of the drawings, enter the oscillating trough member the angular points on its face side would engage with the rounded or beveled sides 128, and the nut-blank would thus be prevented from entering through the eye of the oscillating trough member. Consequently, as the trough member is elevated as shown in said figure of the drawings the nut-blank is thrown back or returned into the hopper and this operation continued with all such nut-blanks as are improperly presented into the nut-blank positioning gate. As a means for preventing the nut-blanks from passing out through the discharge opening or recess 119, of the front wall of the hopper the front or receiving end of the oscillating trough member is provided with a depending guard bar 129, (see Figs. 1() and 1l) which will block the passage or opening 119, when the bucket is elevated, while the trent or receiving end of the oscillating trough is elevated, as shown by dotted lines in S, ot' the drawings.

By reason of the construction of the nutblank positioning gate as just described, it is obvious that the nut-blanks will all be ted into the inclined chute portion 12T, in but one position relative to the tace sides oit the nut-blanks and, consequently, as they .till into the vertical portion 130, ol the nutblank conduit they will all be presented with their face sides that as tilled one by one into the nut-blank pocket ot the nntblank holding and teedingoarriage only the tace sides ot. the nut-blanks will be presented and driven over the taps.

It will be observed that each nut-blank holding and' `feeding farriage reciprocates beneath the discharge end of the nut-blank conduit and that the nut-blank receiving and holding pocket of the carriage is adapted to` register with and receive a nut-blank from said discharge end ot said conduit when said carriage is returned to its initial or normal position, and as a means tor successively engaging and releasing the nut-blanks as said anfriage is reciprocated wl'iereby said nut-blanks are released and ted one by one into the nut-blank receiving and holding pocket of said carriage, the reciprocating carriage bar 56, is provided with an upwardly and outardly-extending supporting-arin 131, bent near its end into a transversely disposed arm 132, terminatingl in a horizontal rearwardly-extending toed reguw lating pin 183. The feed regi'llating pin 133, is adapted to pass through an opening toi-ined in each ot' the channel bars 134-, making up the nut-blank conduit, near the lower or discharge end thereof, and said leed regulating pin is adapted to pass thro-ugh the opening in the next to the lowermost nut-blank in said conduit whereby said feed regulating pin alternately engages and releases one ot the nut-blanks as said cal riage is returned to and moved out of its initial or normal position, respectively, and whereby only one nut-blank is tree to drop into said pocket ot the carriage when the latter is returned to its normal or initial position. By this arrangementit is obvious that should an improper forni ot' nut-blank lind its way into the conduit, as tor eXainple,-a blank without an opening in it, the end of the feed regulatingl pin will come into engagement with the blank and will prevent the return of the carriage to its normal position.

is a means for temporarily supporting and releasing the nut-blank in the pocket ot the carriage as t-he latter is moved to and from its initial or normal position, respectively, a safety latch bar 135, is pivotally secured at one end to the lower support ing-bar 13G, connected to the conduit., and said latch bar is inclined downwardly and outwardly and terminates at its tront end in a laterally-extending cross bar or pin 137, taking over the open end ot said pocket and impinging against the end of the carriage when the latter is in its initial or normal position and adapted to be elevated and travel over said carriage when the salue is being moved to and trom its extreme nut* blank feeding position. By this arrangenient it obvious that it will be impossible tor a init-blank to tall out ot the open end of the pocket when the nut drops into the pocket from the feed end of the conduit while the carriage is in its initial or normal position.

, The location and position ol the nut-blanks in the nut-blank conduit may be observed by means ot the sight-slot or opening 134s, :termed between the channel bars 134, and when the said conduit is entirely tilled with nut-blanks the projecting arm 126, of the pivot member 125, will come into engagement with the lirst nut-blank in the inclined chute portion 127, and the member 125, will close the open .or discharge end ot the oscillating trough member 120, and prevent any further discharge ot nut-blanks.

As a means tor tacing the tapped nuts alter the latter have been forced over the taps the tap-socket and nut-facer portions 29, of the tapspindles are provided with a plurality ot' cutters 138 (see Figs. 15 and 1G) which by their revolution and contact with the tace sides oit the tapped nuts will remove any bur that may be formed on the tace side of the nut by the thread cutting operation and will remove such portion ot the face side ol the threaded nut as may be necessary to give it a proper tace. The amount of material removed by the cutters 188, in the facing operation may be readily regulated by moving the vertical portions 82, with respect to the piston. carrying and releasing plates S5, through the medium ot the adjusting bolt Sil, and nut 8G.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accoinlmnying drawings, the operations and advantages ot' my invention will be readily understood.

lil-Living thus described my invention, without having attempted to set torth all the forms in which it may bc made or all the modes of its use, l declare that what Iclaim and desir-e to secure by Letters Patent, is.--

1. In a nut-tapping machine, a spindle provided with a tap socket having nut tacing cutters, a tap, and means t'or driving the nut over said tap and holding the saine in engagement with said nut facing cutters.

2. In a nut-tapping machine, a reciprocatory nut-blank feeding carriage, a tap llt) holding and reciprocating device comprising a guide supporting-plate, and guide-jaws having their bearing sides longitudinally grooved and provided with inwardly converging beveled outer ends adapted to be engaged by the nut-blank feeding carriage.

3. In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying a plurality of spindles provided with tap-sockets, a plurality of taps carried by said turret and independently supported in axial line with said spindles, and means for moving said taps into and out of said tap-sockets while the turret is being revolved.

t. In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying an intermittently revolving tap spindle, a tap independently supported and removably mounted in axial line with said tap spindle, and means for moving said tap into engagement with said tap spindle while the turret is being revolved.

5. In a. nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying a plurality of intermittently revolving tap spindles and independently supported taps adapted to be moved into engagement with said tap spindles while the turret is being revolved, and nut-blank holding and feeding mechanism adapted to be reciprocated while the turret is in its normal position whereby the nut-blank is fed over the revolving tap and is adapted to be stripped from the opposite end when the latter is withdrawn from the adjacent tap spindle.

6. In a nut-tapping machine a revoluble tap spindle, a tap holding and reciprocating device adapted to carry the tap into and out of engagement with said tap spindle and comprising a reciprocating guide supporting-plate, spring resisted tap-carrying guidejaws carried by said supporting-plate, and link-arms provided with inwardly-extending guide-hooks pivotally secured to the outer ends of said guide-jaws whereby said guidejaws are simultaneously and uniformly eX- panded when engaged by the nut-blank feed- 1n carriage.

In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying a plurality of intermittently revolving tap-carrying spindles, guide supporting-plates carried by said turret, tapcarrying guide jaws mounted on said guide supporting-plates, taps mounted in said guide-jaws, and a cam-plate in engagement with said guide supporting-plates whereby said guide-jaws are reciprocated to carry said taps into and out of engagement with said spindles.

8. In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying a plurality of radially-extending spindles, guide supporting-plates mounted on said turret and provided with guide-jaws, taps interposed between said guide-jaws, a cam-plate in engagement with said guide supporting-plates and adapted to carry said taps into and out of engagement with said spindles while the turret is being revolved, and means for engaging and withdrawing the tapped nuts from said taps when the latter are withdrawn from said spindles.

9. In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret provided with a plurality of guideways, guide supporting-plates mounted in said guide-ways, guide-jaws carried by said guide supporting-plates, a plurality of spindles carried by said turret and provided at their ends with tap-sockets, taps carried by said guide-jaws, a cam-plate engaging said guide supporting-plates and adapted to carry said taps into and out of engagement with said tap-sockets, means for revolving the spindles when said taps are moved into engagement with the tap-sockets thereof, and means for intermittently revolving said turret.

10. In a nut-tapping machine, an intermittently revolving turret carrying a plurality of revoluble tap spindles, means for revolving oppositely-disposed spindles when the turret is in its normal position, tap holding and reciprocating devices carried by said turret, taps mounted in said tap holding and reciprocating devices, and means for moving oppositely-disposed tap holding and reciprocating devices, whereby the taps carried thereby are brought into engagement with oppositely-disposed spindles while the latter are being revolved.

1l. In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying a plurality of revoluble tapspindles, means for intermittently revolving said turret, means for revolving oppositelydisposed tap spindles when the turret is in its normal position, tap holding and reciprolating devices, taps carried thereby, means for moving said tap holding and reciprocating devices whereby said taps are carried into and out of engagement with said revolving tap spindles, and means for engaging and detaching the tapped nut when said taps are carried out of engagement with said tap spindles.

l2. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination with an intermittently revolving horiZontally-movable tap spindle; of tap holding and reciprocating` devices, a tap carried by said holding and reciprocating devices in axial line with said tap spindle, means for reciprocating said devices whereby said tap is carried into and ont of engagement with said tap spindle while the saine is being revolved, and means for engaging and carrying the tapped nut oil of said tap when the latter is carried out of engagement with said spindle.

13. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination with an intermittently revolving turret carrying a tap spindle, and means for revolving said spindle when the turret is in tid alinear and feeding carriage adapted to engage said tap and feed the nutblank thereon, and

means for returning said carriage when the nut is finished.

14;. ln a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble tap spindle, means for intermittently revolving said tap spindle, tap holding and reciprocating devices, a tap carried thereby, means for reciprocating said devices to carry said tap into and out of said tap spindle, a nut-blank holding and feeding carriage adapted to engage said tap and feed the nutblank thereover, means for returning said carriage to its initial position, and means for disengaging the tapped nut when the carriage is returned.

l5. ln a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble turret carrying a tap spindle, means for revolving said spindle when the turret is in its normal position, tap holding and reciprocating devices carried by said turret, a tap carried in said holding and reciprocating devices, means for reciprocating said devices while the turret is being revolved, a nutblank holding and feeding carriage adapted to engage said tap and feed the nut-blank on said tap while the turret is in its normal position, means for locking said turret in its normal position, means for releasing said locking means and permitting said carriage to return toits initial position when the latter has been moved to its eXtreme feeding position, and means for revolving said turret when said carriage has been returned.

16. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination with a. revoluble turret carrying a tap spindle, means for revolving said spindle when the turret is in its normal position, a reciprocating guide supporting-plate carried by said turret, tap-carrying guide-jaws carried by said guide supporting-plate, a tap interposed between said guide-jaws, and means for reciprocating said guide supporting-plate while the turret is being revolved whereby said tap is carried into and out of engagement with said spindle; of a nutblank holding and feeding carriage adapted to engage said tap and feed the nut-blank on said tap and between said guide-jaws when said turret is in its normal position, means for returning said nut-blank holding and feeding carriage when moved to its normal feeding position, and means for revolving said turret when said carriage has been returned to its initial position.

li'. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination with an intermittently revolving turret carrying a plurality of radially extending tap-revolving spindles, pinions loosely mounted on said spindles, clutch mechanism for intermittently revolving said turret and means for continuously revolving said pinions; of a stationary cam-head interposed between the inner ends of said spindles and provided with oppositely-disposed cam projections adapted to simultaneously move and hold oppositely disposed spindles in gear with the pinions mounted thereon, radiallyextending reciprocating supporting-plates mounted on said turret and provided with spring-resisted guide-jaws taps carried between said guide-jans, and a cam-plate reciprocating said supporting plates, as the turret is revolved whereby said taps are moved into engagement with said oppositely-disposed spindles while being revolved.

18. A nut-tapping machine, comprising a revoluble turret, a plurality of radiallyextending spindles carried by said turret, tap-carrying sockets carried by said spindles, means for intermittently revolving Said turret, means for revolving diametrically-opposite spindles when said turret is in its normal position, nut-blank holding and feeding carriages on opposite sides of said turret, pneumatic means for moving said carriages toward said diametricallyopposite spindles when the latter are being revolved, and means controlled through the driving mechanism for releasing the fluid pressure and returning said carriages after they have been moved to their extreme forward aositions.

19. n a nut-tapping machine, a tap holding and reciprocating device comprising a guide supporting plate, guide-jaws provided with tap recess pockets and flaring guide ends, and link-arms pivotally secured to said flaring guide ends whereby said guidejaws are uniformly expanded when engaged by the nut blank feeding carriage.

20. ln a nut-tapping machine, the combination with a revoluble turret carrying a plurality of tap spindles, tap holding and reciprocating devices adapted to be reciprocated while the turret is being revolved, and taps normally carried by said tap holding and reciprocating devices; of pneumatically operated nut-blank holding and feedin@V carriages adapted to engage said taps and feed the nut-blanks thereon while said taps are held in engagement with said tap-spindles and the turret is in its normal position, and means for releasing the pressure of the operating fluid on said carriages when the latter have been moved to their extreme positions.

2l. ln a nut-tapping machine, an intermittently revolving turret carrying a plurality of spindles, means for revolving some of said spindles when the turret is in its normal position, a plurality of reciprocating taps independently carried by said turret in operative relationship to said spindles, and means for holding some of said taps in engagement with the revolving spindles when the turret is in its normal position.

vrevolving some of said spindles When the turret is in its normal position, a plurality of taps independently mounted upon said turret in operative relationship to said spindles, means for moving and holding some of said taps in engagement With the revolving spindles, and nut blank holding and feeding mechanism adapted to engage the outer ends of said engaged and revolving taps to feed nut blanks thereon'while the turret is in its normal position.

23. In a nut-tapping machine, a revoluble tap-spindle, a pair of reciprocating tap guide-jaws, a tap interposed between said guide-jaws, a nut-blank holding and feeding carriage adapted to engage said tap and feed the nut blank thereon and between said guide-jaws When the tap-spindle is being revolved means for returning said carriage, means for withdrawing said tap from said tap-spindle, and means for discharging the tap-nut from said tap when the latter is Withdrawn.

24. In a nut-tapping machine, an intermittently-revolving turret carrying a plurality of spindles, means for revolving some of said spindles when the turret is in its normal position, a plurality of taps independently carried by said turret, and means for holding some of said taps in engage* ment With the revolving spindles when the turret is in its normal position and for moving the same out of engagement therewith While the turret is being revolved.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BOMA.

itnesses FRANK BILLMAN,

O. C. BILLMAN. 

